Bwembya Chikolwa
Dr. Chikolwa is the founder and managing consultant of Complex Property Analytics, LLC., a complex property taxation and regulatory affairs advisory firm. He has held senior roles in private and public sectors, and academia on three continents. He has an adult special needs son and is an advocate for the different abilities community.
Maria-Soledad Diaz
Born in Chile, Soledad studied Social Sciences and Law at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and Professional Photography at Universidad del Pacifico. She has dedicated her professional life to serving underprivileged communities and has focused her work in equity, social justice and anti-violence work. Currently, Soledad is the Public Policy and Community Impact Director for Violence Free Colorado, Chair of the Community Advisory Board for Downtown Boulder Partnership and is committed through her work in all its different ways and forms, to strengthen our sense of community and become a part of each other’s solutions.
Mylene Vialard
Mylene identifies as a White Woman who is bi-lingual in French and English. Mylene has been a Boulder resident for the last 15 years where she has also raised her daughter in the BVSD school system. Over the past two years, Mylene has been an active member of the Boulder chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice (BSURJ) where she has been delving into the intricacies of life, culture and policies in Boulder through the lens of engaged antiracism, conversations about racial justice and building relationships with accountability partners such as NAACP, Right Relationship Boulder, and other organizations in Boulder County and Denver. As a single mother, a freelance translator, and a concerned member of the community, Mylene feels it is her duty to be more involved in ensuring that all voices in Boulder are heard and included. She has worked for years as a cultural and language ambassador for francophone countries, but also for other countries around the world. Most recently, she has shifted her attention to a deeper level of civic and local engagement and is looking forward to bringing her experience to the panel.
Jason Savela
Jason Savela identifies as a white man and been a criminal defense lawyer in Boulder for 20 years. He stays up to date on newer police tactic trainings and does not feel he sees it deployed regularly enough. He believes that change will take time and effort and wants to be an active part of that change. Jason feels he has a positive relationship with Boulder prosecutors, judges, public defenders, and some officers. He wants to work with the panel and other players to find outcomes that are just and will foster better relationships between officers and community members. Jason’s continued education over the last 10 or so years has primarily been about communication, connection, and empathy. He feels he is better able to work on this type of panel with these skills. Jason has lived and practiced law in the Boulder area for 20 years. Jason has practiced law all over Colorado, with over 3 years as a Public Defender in Colorado Springs and 2 years in Adams County, including handling and trying cases in Hugo, Durango, Georgetown, Ft. Collins, Holyoke, Meeker, Greeley, Denver
Lizzie Friend
Lizzie Friend is passionate about equity in public health and the criminal justice system. She is currently a section manager at the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, where she manages data science, technology, population health epidemiology, and communicable disease epidemiology programs for the department. In her last role, she served as the Director of Performance Management and Strategy for the Denver Sheriff Department, where she worked to promote data integrity, data-driven decision-making, innovation, and reform. She holds a master's degree in data science from the University of California Berkeley and also has experience working in finance and consumer products research. She lives in South Boulder and is raising two kids in BVSD schools.
Arlette "AB" Barlow
A mother of four, Arlette Barlow is a mainstay of Boulder. She serves on the Board at the Dairy Arts Center and on the Board of Trustees at Watershed School where her twin daughters attend middle school.
Raised in Europe, the US and before Boulder, New Orleans, she gained a unique perspective on the human condition and sees humanity—in all its struggles and triumphs—as being more similar than different.
A ceramicist of 30 years, she recently placed her work in The New Local, a burgeoning center for female artists in Boulder.
A transformation coach, she helps people play for their big dreams and facilitates their path to greater belonging in this world. Her biggest joy is guiding people on their journeys of connection. She believes this connection can be strengthened at the community level and is most excited about bringing this worldview to the Boulder POP Panel.
Bill de la Cruz
Bill de la Cruz is a facilitator, trainer and developer of community engagement conversations with a variety of constituents. Bill has worked with police departments, first responders, educators in K-12 and higher education, municipalities, healthcare workers, attorneys, nonprofits and human resource agencies in Boulder County and around the state and country. His work is grounded in conversations about ways to enhance and evolve systemic policies, practices and protocols to lead to improved outcomes. Additionally, he supports individuals and groups to resolve conflict and build sustainable skills to transform conflict into learning and growth opportunities. In his work as a consultant, Bill works with organizations and individuals to understand and break through the impacts of bias, judgments and stereotypes in how we see and interact with each other.
Alan O'Hashi
Alan O’Hashi is an author and filmmaker based in Boulder, Colorado. He recently released a book, “Views from Beyond Metropolis: Reimagine the American Way and learn ways to bridge multicultural divides in an ever-changing world,” and a documentary film, “The Arapaho Covered Wagon Redux” about tribal efforts to regain land in Boulder taken after the Sand Creek Massacre. He is a seasoned diversity and cultural competency trainer facilitating groups, including the City of Boulder Police Department Victim Advocates and Boulder Valley School District high school mentors. Alan has presented at the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence National Conference, the National Practitioners Conference on Civic Engagement, and the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance Conference. He is a past member of the Boulder Human Relations Commission and Boulder Planning Board and served on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission Wyoming Advisory Committee. Alan completed a U.S. Department of Justice Hate Crime Training for Region VIII and holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the CU-Denver Center for Domestic Violence Prevention.
Kristen Drybread
Kristen Drybread holds a Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from Columbia University and has conducted ethnographic research on policing and imprisonment in cities through Brazil with support from organizations including the Fulbright Hays Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, The São Paul Foundation for Research, and the British Academy. After working as an elementary school teacher in New Orleans, a research editor at Condé Nast magazines in New York City, and a post-doctoral research fellow in São Paulo, Kristen made her way to Boulder. She is now a member of the CU Anthropology faculty who teaches courses on, among other things, the relationship between policing and popular culture. She is also the parent of two children; one attends a BVSD high school the other is a BVSD graduate.
Curtis Rogers
Curtis K. Rogers is a dedicated advocate for justice, community empowerment, and transformative healing. As a student at Naropa University studying psychology with a focus on Buddhist-informed contemplative counseling, he brings a unique perspective shaped by his lived experiences. Curtis is committed to fostering accountability, transparency, and trust between law enforcement and the community through his role on the Boulder Police Oversight Panel.
Dahni Austin
Dahni Austin is a DSF Scholar and student at CU Boulder, pursuing a double major in Accounting and Real Estate with minors in Multicultural Leadership Studies and Music. Growing up in Denver, Dahni developed a passion for education, equity, and systemic change, leading efforts to amplify underrepresented voices in academia and beyond. As the co-founder of Know Justice Know Peace: The Take, a nationally recognized podcast on racial and social justice, they have used storytelling and advocacy to drive meaningful conversations. With experience in corporate law, finance, and youth leadership, Dahni remains committed to creating opportunities for marginalized communities and fostering a more inclusive future.
